INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS

LouvainX online course [Louv2x] - prof. Olivier De Schutter

READING MATERIAL
related to: section 8, sub-section 1, unit 1:
The UN Charter-based system of human rights protection

U.N. General Assembly, Resolution 60/251. Human Rights Council (A/RES/60/251, 15

March 2006):

3. [The General Assembly decides also] that the Council should address situations of
violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make
recommendations thereon. It should also promote the effective coordination and the
mainstreaming of human rights within the United Nations system;
4. Decides further that the work of the Council shall be guided by the principles of
universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive international
dialogue and cooperation, with a view to enhancing the promotion and protection of all
human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to
development;
5. Decides that the Council shall, inter alia:
(a) Promote human rights education and learning as well as advisory services,
technical assistance and capacity-building, to be provided in consultation with and
with the consent of Member States concerned;
(b) Serve as a forum for dialogue on thematic issues on all human rights;
(c) Make recommendations to the General Assembly for the further development of
international law in the field of human rights;
(d) Promote the full implementation of human rights obligations undertaken by States
and follow-up to the goals and commitments related to the promotion and protection
of human rights emanating from United Nations conferences and summits;
(e) Undertake a universal periodic review, based on objective and reliable information,
of the fulfilment by each State of its human rights obligations and commitments in a
manner which ensures universality of coverage and equal treatment with respect to all
States; the review shall be a cooperative mechanism, based on an interactive dialogue,
with the full involvement of the country concerned and with consideration given to its
capacity-building needs; such a mechanism shall complement and not duplicate the
work of treaty bodies; the Council shall develop the modalities and necessary time
allocation for the universal periodic review mechanism within one year after the
holding of its first session;
 LouvainX online course [Louv2x] - prof. Olivier De Schutter
Reading Material
(f) Contribute, through dialogue and cooperation, towards the prevention of human
rights violations and respond promptly to human rights emergencies;
(g) Assume the role and responsibilities of the Commission on Human Rights relating
to the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights, as decided by the General Assembly in its resolution 48/141 of 20 December
1993;
(h) Work in close cooperation in the field of human rights with Governments, regional
organizations, national human rights institutions and civil society;
(i) Make recommendations with regard to the promotion and protection of human
rights;
(j) Submit an annual report to the General Assembly;
6. Decides also that the Council shall assume, review and, where necessary, improve
and rationalize all mandates, mechanisms, functions and responsibilities of the
Commission on Human Rights in order to maintain a system of special procedures,
expert advice and a complaint procedure; the Council shall complete this review within
one year after the holding of its first session;
7. Decides further that the Council shall consist of forty-seven Member States, which
shall be elected directly and individually by secret ballot by the majority of the
members of the General Assembly; the membership shall be based on equitable
geographical distribution, and seats shall be distributed as follows among regional
groups: Group of African States, thirteen; Group of Asian States, thirteen; Group of
Eastern European States, six; Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, eight; and
Group of Western European and other States, seven [these ‘other’ States of the WEOG
group are Australia, Canada and New Zealand ; while formally not a member of any
geographical group, the United States is considered a member of WEOG for election
purposes, and Israel has an ‘observer’ status within WEOG]; the members of the
Council shall serve for a period of three years and shall not be eligible for immediate re-
election after two consecutive terms;
8. Decides that the membership in the Council shall be open to all States Members of
the United Nations; when electing members of the Council, Member States shall take
into account the contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human
rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments made thereto; the General
Assembly, by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, may suspend
the rights of membership in the Council of a member of the Council that commits gross
and systematic violations of human rights;
9. Decides also that members elected to the Council shall uphold the highest standards
in the promotion and protection of human rights, shall fully cooperate with the Council
and be reviewed under the universal periodic review mechanism during their term of
membership;
10. Decides further that the Council shall meet regularly throughout the year and
schedule no fewer than three sessions per year, including a main session, for a total
duration of no less than ten weeks, and shall be able to hold special sessions, when
needed, at the request of a member of the Council with the support of one third of the
membership of the Council; …

[version of January 2015] 2